Live at El Matador is a live performance album bypianistVince Guaraldi andguitaristBola Sete, released in October 1966 byFantasy Records. It is their third and final recorded collaboration as well as Guaraldi's last release for Fantasy.
Live at El Matador is a condensed version of a live performance that Guaraldi and Sete regularly presented at this point in their collaboration. Guaraldi and his trio performed their set first, followed by a solo performance from Sete, and then concluded with Guaraldi's trio rejoining Sete for a joint finale.Live at El Matador contains the first and third segments of a performance, excising Sete's solo set. The original vinyl release contained Guaraldi's opening set on Side One and the concluding Guaraldi/Sete set on Side Two.[1]
DespiteLive at El Matador being a live album, Fantasy Record engineers faded several selections rather than letting them naturally conclude with audience applause. Guaraldi historian and author Derrick Bang commented that this "results in some jarringly abrupt fades, most disturbingly on 'I'm a Loser'."[1]
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